I have a PNY Quadro FX540 workstation graphics card (won it at NAB conference), it's circa 2004.

http://reviews.cnet.com/graphics-c [...] ?tag=specs

I'm thinking of building a system around it..is it worth it?

I did some research, & the minimum $$ for a custom build is ~$800

http://www.infohq.com/Computer/des [...] ing-pc.htm


There is a Compaq Presario SR5410F being discounted to $279 at Staples, info here:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applica [...] No=3776553

[ you get a lot of stuff: case, Windows Vista, etc. I have a 500G Maxtor SATA drive sitting around (brand new) ]

It has a PCI Express 16x slot available to take the above PNY video board. Does it make any sense to buy this cheapo system to play with? Or am I better off building a good system from the start? Doesn't everyone have to buy a Windows license ($149 & up) for their system?


I'm a Mac person (3 desktops), but I have a couple of PC laptops. This would be my 1st entry into PC desktop land. I'd like to give Sony Vegas (nice video editing software) a try.

Erm...
Your Quadro is the same as a GF6600 non GT based GPU.
Not at all worth building a system around.

What all do you plan on doing with your system?
What budget do you have and do you have anything other than a 500Gb Hd that you can reuse?

I'd like to play with Vegas 8, a nice video-editing solution (holds its own against Apple's FCP/Final Cut Pro). I need Firewire capability to import HD video from my Sony FX1. Play with computer animation software, some gaming.

Just a fool-around system. I'm too Mac-centric, need to get PC-savvy. Almost no budget, that $279 for a complete PC desktop I can afford right now.

Specs:

Processor Brand: Intel®
Processor Class: Pentium® Dual Core
Processor Number: E2160
Processor Speed: 1.80GHz
Processor Interface: Socket LGA775
Processors Supported: 1
Processors Onboard: 1

[ Is this processor low-end, med-end, or ...? ]

Additional Technologies: Intel® Extended Memory 64 Technology
Dual-Core Technology
Memory Type: DDR2
Memory Size: 512MB
Total Memory: 1.0GB

Memory Speed: DDR2 800 (PC2-6400)
Memory Slots (Total): 2
Memory Slots (Available): 0

Maximum Memory Supported: 4.0GB
Interface: SATA II
Capacity: 320GB
Speed: 7,200RPM

Optical Drive Type: DVD±RW Dual Layer Lightscribe
Interface: EIDE
Audio Description: Integrated Audio
Audio Chipset: High Definition

Channels: 5.1
Graphics Description: Integrated Graphics
GPU/VPU: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
Video Memory: up to 128MB Shared Memory
Video Interface: VGA (15-Pin D-Sub)

[ I will be "ahead" with the PNY FX540 card, right? ]

Communications Description: Integrated LAN Support
Interface Type: RJ-45 - Ethernet Connector
Data Transfer Rate: 10Mbps
100Mbps
Communications Description: 56Kbps Modem
Interface Type: RJ-11 - Phone Connector
Data Transfer Rate: up to 56Kbps

Power: 250 Watt

[ how would you rate this PS, low/med end..in terms of power? ]

Bays: 2 - 5.25" Drive Bays
1 - 3.5" Drive Bays
Internal Bays: 2 - 3.5" Drive Bays
Available 3.5" Drive Bays: 2
Available 5.25" Drive Bays: 1

[ I only have expansion for 1 more 5.25" drive? Can I "cheat" & put more drives, or..the PS won't handle it? ]

PCI Slots (Total): 1
PCI Slots (Available): 0
PCI Express X1 Slots (Total): 2
PCI Express X1 Slots (Available): 2
PCI Express X16 Slots (Total): 1
PCI Express X16 Slots (Available): 1
PCI Express Slots (Total): 3
PCI Express Slots (Available): 3
Expansion Slots: 4

Assuming you are in the states and can order from newegg.com....
Here is your new $500 system minus monitor, keyboard, mouse and speakers.

Gigabyte GA-P35-S3G Mb $74.99
Intel E7200 2.53Ghz CPU $129.99
4Gb DDR2 800 RAM $76.99
9600GT GPU $134.99 - $20MIR = $114.99
Antec EarthWats 380 PSU $34.99
Samsung 20x DVD/RW $26.99
Case $20.99

Total $479.93 after MIR

If you need a copy of Windows...

Windows Xp Pro $129.99
-or-
Windows XP Home $84.99
-or-
Vista Home Premium $99.99

This system will be way more powerful than what you have selected. The components are of much higher quality also. Prebuilt systems use the absolute cheapest components that will just barley work through the warranty period.

The link to the case you submitted, is to the DVD/RW. Do you mind reposting the link.

Fixed in the original post.
In reality, any ATX case will work just fine for you.
There are a few cheaper and lots that are higher quality.

Thanks for the advice.

I now understand that despite the incredibly LOW pricepoint ($250, there is another $25 off coupon off $279), it won't do what I want. The motherboard is a MSI MS-7525 (Boston):

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc [...] 78&lang=en


Can you recommend a solution (MB & processor), which has onboard 1394 functionality? (I need it for FW import of HD video) Here's one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131232

But, it's $149..almost twice the cost of your recommendation (Gigabit $79)